Update:

Ernie and I visited his long-lost family in Washington this past weekend. We picked up his brother Ron(nie) in Auburn, then headed east over Snoqualmie Pass.
Turns out his Dad is now raising chickens near Oroville, about 15 minutes from Canada. We arrived after dark, and settled in to the snug little house (three rooms and counting, built off of what started as a shed). We traded pictures, Ronnie's four-year-old daughter for Dad's fishing and Alaska collection. Enjoyed sitting by the fire, accumulating ever-changing drifts of large, warm cats (they have about 12), plus three dogs in various sizes and ages. His step-grandma has three adorable kittens, and a spare bedroom.

We got snowed in, and when we started to leave on Sunday we slid off the road. Oops. After Adventures In Towing, we decided to try again Monday. We made it through the pass using four sets of snow tires, and got pretty good at putting them on and taking them off. In the dark. I did have to extract Ernie at one point after he succumbed to the urge to help.

We dropped Ron(nie) off in the Seattle area Monday night. The number of newscasters using the term "ice skating rink" convinced us to wait until Tuesday to attempt the rest of the drive home. By noon the roads were dry, and the clouds piled up to the east and west like parting waters. It was a good trip.

Arriving back at Grandma's house, the day-to-day worries settled right back in. Jasmine, Grandma's elderly black cat, was sacked out in the bathroom and not looking too good. We made dinner, then took Ernie home for the night.

Ernie goes in for his next surgery on Friday. He'll be in bed for a week while they culture some samples and decide why his bones haven't healed together yet. Then, most likely, we'll go back in next Friday the 8th for a second surgery, to install one or more of the recommended options.

Meanwhile, he needs to be out of his current house by Dec. 15th. (His roommates had a family emergency in North Carolina, and moved out last week.) I'm looking for houses or rooms today, and trying to sort out how to take care of both Ernie and Grandma. (Grandma doesn't want Ernie to move in here, in case that occured to you as well as to me.)

Jasmine died this morning, and we (I) buried her under the oak tree in the back yard, along with the previous cats. Granma is a bit down about it, but not enough to try drinking chai tea. (I heard it's good for a mood uplift. She wrinkles her nose up at the smell of it, so I made her some of her usual decaf green tea.)

There's a bazillion things to be done to make the house warmer for winter. I need to find work that pays enough for me to afford an apartment... or a cheap way to house Ernie where I can visit him.

Mom has offered that we can stay with her if we need to, and I'd like to visit over the holidays in any case. We'll see how it goes.

Like the emperor's advisors said, advice that's true in good times or bad:
This too shall pass.

Please let us know if you, or someone you know, has an insight into ...
-navigating the VA to get medical benefits or other support(Ernie's a First Gulf War vet, served in the Navy from about 1984-89)

-finding a house without too many stairs, a room where we can put him to bed with a door that shuts, ideally Internet access and friendly housemates who can accomodate either shared meals, or a stream of well-wishers bringing Ernie food and comfort.

-getting a second photo ID that will be acceptable to banks and passport offices... we have a state ID (not driver's license, as Ernie doesn't drive), social security card, birth certificate, and military discharge papers, but this apparently isn't enough to get Ernie a passport or bank account.

-anything else come to mind?

Love,
Erica